45 Best Animated Christmas Movies That Definitely Make the "Nice" List
Whether you're looking for old Christmas cartoons or new favorites, these will please the whole family.
There's something about Christmas movies that lend themselves to being re-watched. It's because Christmas is so wrapped up in traditions and nostalgia that you find yourself reaching for the same titles year after year. And, more often than not, you want to go back to the movies from your childhood, possibly to share them with your own kids.
That's probably why so many Christmas movies for kids still rank in the top echelons of the greatest Christmas movies of all-time — and why so many of them are animated. When you get ready to make your lists this year, check out these best animated Christmas movies to watch in 2023. Some are those classic cartoon shorts that have been kicking around for years, and the abbreviated length makes them good for younger viewers. But there are plenty of full-length features, too, which do deep dives into different aspects of Christmas lore. And yes, there are also newer favorites, too, vying to earn a spot in the yearly rotation. Brew the cocoa and gather the family around one of these on your next movie night.
Looking for more great Christmas movies? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:
The Best Funny Christmas Movies | The Best Christmas Rom-Coms | The Best Christmas Movies on Disney+
Coming Soon — The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday
In The Bad Guys, a bunch of animals with bad reputations — including a wolf, a shark, a snake, a tarantula and a barracuda — try to walk the straight and narrow. But is that enough to land them on the "Nice" list? And when Christmas is unexpectedly canceled, what will they do? The half-hour Netflix short will find the answers — or you can get the accompanying book. It debuts on Netflix on November 30.
Klaus (2019)
This is one of the few animated Christmas movies (perhaps the only?) to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It lost to the mighty Toy Story 4, but kids still find the story — about a postal worker who befriends a toy maker in a chilly, remote town — extremely charming.
RELATED: A Definitive List of the Best Christmas Movies of All Time
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Sometimes, it feels good to be a little more thoughtful, even melancholy, about the holidays. If you're not the types to always be in a holly, jolly mood, you're in good company. Neither is Charlie Brown, who in this classic special goes on a deep journey to discover the true meaning of Christmas. The soundtrack, by composer Vince Guaraldi, is also a must-listen come this time of year. Mark the calendars: Apple TV+ has already announced that it'll make the special available for free for two days only, on December 16 and December 17.
RELATED: How to Watch and Stream 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' This Holiday Season
A Christmas Carol (2009)
Robert Zemeckis, director of Back to the Future, is a noted tinkerer with motion-capture technology, which records the motions of real-life actors for animation. In this one, he uses it to let Jim Carrey give multiple performances and take on multiple roles in this adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens book.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
For fans of animation, there's nothing better than this Dr. Seuss adaptation, in which the Grinch is brought to life by Looney Tunes legend Chuck Jones. It also features narration by horror icon Boris Karloff, and an indelible performance of "You're a Mean One" by Thurl Ravenscroft.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Christmas cheer meets the macabre in this stop-motion animated musical from the gothic mind of Tim Burton. If you're one of those families who can't celebrate Christmas soon enough, you can get away with re-watching this one starting in October.
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RELATED: 12 Christmas Horror Movies That Are Both Equally Scary and Festive
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
There's a reason this stop-motion animated special — from Rankin/Bass Productions, the masters of the form — is a Christmas classic: It imparts a heartwarming lesson about embracing your imperfections. It's also narrated by Christmas mainstay Burl Ives, who never fails to put viewers in the Christmas spirit.
Arthur Christmas (2011)
This fun Christmas movie goes behind the scenes of Santa's super high-tech establishment in the North Pole. When he accidentally forgets to give a young girl her gift on Christmas, he sends his hapless son Arthur out to deliver it instead.
Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
Mickey Mouse takes on the role of Bob Cratchit, with Scrooge McDuck in the part of Ebenezer Scrooge, in another twist on A Christmas Carol. The whole thing is just 26 minutes, so perfect for throwing on when you have a few minutes for some holiday cheer.
Santa's Apprentice (2010)
In this film, originally from France, it's time for Santa to retire — but he doesn't want to. Still, the rules say he has to train an apprentice. If the kids love it, there's also a sequel called The Magic Snowflake.
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
For a feature-length take on Dr. Seuss' Grinch story, this movie comes from the same studio that brought us the Minions, and it uses the extra running time to expand on the world of the Grinch. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the Mean One, and he has all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile.
The Snowy Day (2016)
This Amazon original, just 40 minutes long, is based on the must-have book by Ezra Jack Keats. It's a sweet story about a boy named Peter who goes on a snowy walk to his grandma's house on Christmas Eve.
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
We all know the classic story of Frosty the Snowman, where Frosty comes to life thanks to a magical hat. The film, narrated by Jimmy Durante, is based on the Christmas song that every kid knows the words to by heart.
The Polar Express (2004)
This is another Zemeckis film, which also uses motion-capture technology. This time, Tom Hanks is at the center, starring in a touching film based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg. The movie follows a young boy who, doubting Santa's existence, goes on a magical train ride to find out more about the North Pole.
Duck the Halls (2016)
While Mickey's Christmas Carol is a heartfelt classic, if you're looking for something that'll make you laugh, this 22-minute animated special is better. In it, Donald decides to stay put for the holidays in the hope of experiencing a true Christmas — only to be blindsided by the cold. (This is why ducks usually fly south in winter.) The humor is reminiscent of something irreverent, like a less-extreme Ren and Stimpy.
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022)
There's always room for another round of A Christmas Carol. Netflix's version is a musical adaptation of Dickens's classic, and the songs come courtesy of Leslie Bricusse, the songwriter behind "Candy Man" and "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Angela's Christmas (2018)
That Angela is the one from Angela's Ashes, and the 30-minute special is based on the children's story from celebrated author Frank McCourt. With those ingredients, you know you're in for a gripping story. Netflix followed up with a sequel, Angela's Christmas 2, in 2020.
Robin Robin (2021)
This half-hour special is full of hygge, especially when you look at the flocked, felted feel of the stop-motion animals. It's about a bird who was raised by mice and wishes to become a mouse. It even got an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short.
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
The '70s and '60s were prolific times for Rankin/Bass Productions, a studio that cranked out tons of beloved stop-motion animation films (including the aforementioned Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer). This one is famous for its duo of unforgettable villains, Heat Miser and Snow Miser.
Annabelle's Wish (1997)
So many animals want to become one of Santa's reindeer. In this case, Anmabelle, a calf, who has a dream of flying on Christmas Eve. Does her Christmas wish come true?
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